Athlon II X4 651 vs Core i7-2635QM
Athlon II X4 651
Core i7-2635QM
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Athlon II X4 651 is positioned at rank 505 and the Core i7-2635QM is on rank 1096, so the Athlon II X4 651 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 651
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-2635QM
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 651 | Core i7-2635QM |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($92) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($378) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 651 | Core i7-2635QM |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+316%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($92) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($378) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon II X4 651 and Core i7-2635QM
Athlon II X4 651
The Athlon II X4 651 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,584 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i7-2635QM
The Core i7-2635QM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1224. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 3,541 points. Launch price was $378.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X4 651 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core i7-2635QM's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Athlon II X4 651 versus 2.9 GHz on the Core i7-2635QM — a 3.4% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 651 (base: 3 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Athlon II X4 651 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-2635QM uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 651 scores 3,584 against the Core i7-2635QM's 3,541 — a 1.2% lead for the Athlon II X4 651. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 651 vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i7-2635QM.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 651 | Core i7-2635QM |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz+3% | 2.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+50% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core)+300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Llano (2011−2012) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 3,584+1% | 3,541 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X4 651 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-2635QM uses FCBGA1224 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1866 memory speed. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 651 | Core i7-2635QM |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM1 | FCBGA1224 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X4 651) / VT-x (Core i7-2635QM). The Core i7-2635QM includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 3000), while the Athlon II X4 651 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-2635QM targets Mobile.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 651 | Core i7-2635QM |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 3000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Mobile |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X4 651 launched at $92 MSRP, while the Core i7-2635QM debuted at $378.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 651 | Core i7-2635QM |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $92-76% | $378 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $92 | — |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2011 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Athlon II X4 651 and Core i7-2635QM
